Ongoing cost reductions in battery, solar and wind technology mean that decisions to invest in clean energy are increasingly driven by economic rather than political considerations.

At the same time, however, U.S. grids are being stretched to breaking point by the need to connect new energy and storage assets, and local opposition to electricity network upgrades is likely to add to the burden developers already face in getting permission for cleantech projects.

Problems with grid interconnections are a major cause of clean energy projects cancellations, but not the only one. Local ordinances and zoning are a factor in 80% of wind project cancellations, and more than 60% of solar scheme abandonments.

Community opposition is also to blame in more than 50% of cases, highlighting an ongoing need for stakeholder engagement even as developers fret over grid connections and the wider policy environment.

With little visibility of how these issues might be overcome in the short term, it seems safe to assume North America will continue to see important clean energy and storage additions no matter what governments are in place in 2025 – but the continent’s ability to meet climate targets is in doubt.  

That’s assuming the only substantial changes in North America are down to elections. But there is another factor, which could change the outlook radically in favor of clean technology.

Science-based nonprofit Climate Central said thar from June 18 to 20, more than 25 million people in the midwestern and eastern U.S. experienced heat made at least four times more likely because of human-caused climate change.

Faced with a rapidly worsening climate, North American citizens and their leaders – of whatever persuasion – may decide it makes sense to push forward with energy transition no matter what.    

/Reuters/